Smart IV bag with optical IV drug identification tag
This invention relates to a smart IV bag with a structurally integrated optical tag for IV drug identification and monitoring. The optical tag comprises a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with the IV bag to sample a portion of the IV fluid onto an optical surface embedded in the flow cell. The optical surface causes a light beam to interact with the sampled IV fluid to produce a spectroscopic signal. The spectroscopic signal is then analyzed to obtain the content and concentration information of the IV fluid. Unlike traditional IV bag labels, the optical tag provides real-time, in-situ monitoring of IV fluid content and concentration, which greatly reduces the risk of mislabeling induced IV error.
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This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Provisional Patent Application No. 61/711,291, filed Oct. 9, 2012, entitled “SMART IV BAG WITH OPTICAL IV DRUG IDENTIFICATION TAG”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the above mentioned United States Provisional Applications is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention generally relates to an IV bag, more specifically to a smart IV bag with an optical IV drug identification tag.
BACKGROUNDIntravenous (IV) therapy is the process of administering medication directly into a patient's vein. IV drug delivery is one of the most powerful routes to administer drugs. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common reasons for medication error, accounting for up to 35 percent that result in significant harm. Common IV errors include: (a) wrong drug administered; (b) improper timing of administration; (c) wrong dosage amount; (d) improper injection of drug; (d) dangerous combination of drugs administered; and (f) defective IV pump or valve. There thus exists a need to rapidly identify and verify the chemical content of the IV fluid to ensure the correct drug and dosage to be delivered to the right patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the overall goal of the present invention to provide a smart IV bag with a structurally integrated optical tag for IV drug identification and monitoring. The optical tag comprises a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with the IV bag to sample a portion of the IV fluid onto an optical surface embedded in the flow cell. The optical surface causes a light beam to interact with the sampled IV fluid to produce a spectroscopic signal. The spectroscopic signal is then analyzed by an optical spectrometer to obtain the content and concentration information of the IV fluid. Unlike traditional IV bag labels, the optical tag provides real-time, in-situ monitoring of IV fluid content and concentration, which greatly reduces the risk of mislabeling induced IV error.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONBefore describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a smart IV bag with optical IV drug identification tag. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
The SERS tag 100 further comprises a valve 118 mounted in the flexible tube 104, which seals the fluid channel to the flow cell 102. Before IV drug delivery, the practitioner can break open the valve 118 such that the IV fluid is delivered to the SERS active surface 106 for performing Raman spectroscopy analysis. The valve 118 can be made as a one-directional valve such that the IV fluid can only flow from the IV bag into the flow cell to avoid any possible contamination to the IV fluid. In addition, a filtration member may be embedded in the tube 104 to remove certain chemical contents of the IV fluid such that only the specific IV drug can reach the SERS active surface 106 to be measured thereof.
The optical tag of the present invention does not perturb the IV fluid and can be used for single measurement or continuous monitoring. Unlike traditional IV bag labels, the SERS tag provides real-time, in-situ monitoring of IV fluid content and concentration. This feature greatly reduces the risk of mislabeling induced IV error.
In a slight variation of the present embodiment, the SERS active surface 106 of the optical tag 100 further comprises immobilized antibodies which can bind with a specific type of analytes in the IV fluid and bring them to the proximity of the SERS active surface 106 for performing Raman spectroscopic analysis. In addition, the SERS active surface 106 may incorporate fluorescence quenching molecules for suppressing the florescence emission of the IV drug such that a high fidelity SERS spectrum can be acquired.
In a slight variation of the present embodiment, the ATR member 206 is a modified optical waveguide such as a tapered optic fiber made of glass or plastic material. The light at the tapered region of the optical fiber propagates as an evanescent wave, which interacts with the IV fluid to produce an absorption spectrum of the IV fluid.
In yet another variation of the present invention, the optical tag comprises a fluorescence active surface, e.g. a dielectric grating deposited on a gold film to enhance a fluorescence emission of the IV fluid sample. The fluorescence spectrum of the IV fluid is then analyzed to obtain the content and concentration information of the IV drug.
In yet another variation of the present invention, the optical tag comprises an optical surface which selectively reflects certain wavelength bands in the optical spectrum for facilitating the trans-reflectance or absorption spectrum measurement of the IV fluid.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Claims
1. An intravenous (IV) fluid container with pre-filled IV fluid for IV therapy, said IV fluid container comprising a structurally integrated optical IV drug identification tag, said optical IV drug identification tag comprising:
- a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with said IV fluid container;
- a one-directional breakable valve embedded in said fluid channel for sealing said fluid channel to said flow cell, said one-directional breakable valve is configured to allow a portion of the IV fluid to flow one-directionally from said IV fluid container into said flow cell when broke open; and
- a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active surface embedded in said flow cell, said SERS active surface is configured to receive said portion of the IV fluid and cause a light beam to interact with said portion of the IV fluid to produce a Raman scattering signal containing a content and concentration information of the IV fluid.
2. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a transparent window for transmitting said light beam to said SERS active surface.
3. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said SERS active surface comprises a roughened metal surface with nanostructures.
4. The IV fluid container of claim 3, wherein said nanostructures comprise surface gratings.
5. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a filtration member embedded in said fluid channel, said filtration member is configured to remove a pre-determined content of the IV fluid.
6. A method for identifying and monitoring the content and concentration of intravenous (IV) fluid in an IV fluid container, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an optical IV drug identification tag structurally integrated with the IV fluid container, said optical IV drug identification tag comprising a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with said IV fluid container, a one-directional breakable valve embedded in said fluid channel for sealing said fluid channel to said flow cell, said one-directional breakable valve is configured to allow a portion of the IV fluid to flow one-directionally from said IV fluid container into said flow cell when broke open, and a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active surface embedded in said flow cell to receive said portion of the IV fluid;
- causing a light beam to interact with said portion of the IV fluid in proximity to said SERS active surface to produce a Raman scattering signal; and
- measuring said Raman scattering signal to obtain a content and concentration information of the IV fluid.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a transparent window for transmitting said light beam to said SERS active surface.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a filtration member embedded in said fluid channel, said filtration member is configured to remove a pre-determined content of the IV fluid.
9. An intravenous (IV) fluid container with pre-filled IV fluid for IV therapy, said IV fluid container comprising a structurally integrated optical IV drug identification tag, said optical IV drug identification tag comprising:
- a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with said IV fluid container;
- a one-directional breakable valve embedded in said fluid channel for sealing said fluid channel to said flow cell, said one-directional breakable valve is configured to allow a portion of the IV fluid to flow one-directionally from said IV fluid container into said flow cell when broke open; and
- a fluorescence active surface embedded in said flow cell, said fluorescence active surface is configured to receive said portion of the IV fluid and cause a light beam to interact with said portion of the IV fluid to produce a fluorescence signal containing a content and concentration information of the IV fluid.
10. The IV fluid container of claim 9, wherein said fluorescence active surface comprises a dielectric grating deposited on a gold film.
11. The IV fluid container of claim 9, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a filtration member embedded in said fluid channel, said filtration member is configured to remove a pre-determined content of the IV fluid.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 7, 2013
Date of Patent: Jun 21, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20140098366
Assignee: BWT Property, Inc. (Newark, DE)
Inventor: Sean Xiaolu Wang (Wilmington, DE)
Primary Examiner: Kara E Geisel
Assistant Examiner: Dominic J Bologna
Application Number: 14/047,083
International Classification: A61J 1/12 (20060101); G01J 3/44 (20060101); G01J 3/42 (20060101); A61J 1/10 (20060101); G01N 21/552 (20140101); G01N 21/64 (20060101); G01N 21/65 (20060101); G01N 21/77 (20060101);